KENNY DALGLISH paid tribute to his players after Liverpool secured their place in the FA Cup final at Merseyside rivals Everton’s expense.

Andy Carroll’s late header ensured the Reds will return to Wembley to face Chelsea next month, after Luis Suarez had cancelled out Nikica Jelavic’s first-half opener in front more than 87,000 supporters.

And afterwards a beaming Dalglish said he was proud of his players’ character, both for their performance here and in the way they have reacted to the club’s recent poor league run.

The Reds boss said: “I think the players that were out there, those that have made a contribution throughout the whole run in the FA Cup have been fantastic for the football club.

“Their attitude, their application and their intent in getting that positive result from today’s game was there for everybody to see.

“Whether it’s deserved or not? Let people have their own opinion. But I think everything you need to win a football game, we showed today as a team. It’s testament to everybody’s character, the way they’ve held themselves together, held their resolve. They’ve come back and they’ve responded positively to what’s not been a great period in the football club’s history.”

Dalglish admitted that the victory would give the club a huge lift, and said that recent criticisms of both him and his players would serve only to strengthen their resolve to bring further success to Anfield.

“You don’t like it, but you don’t have to agree with it,” he said. “You just have to get on with it. If it means me taking dog’s abuse, then good, it takes the pressure off the players.

“My skin’s a bit thicker than some of theirs. A lot of them are here for the first time, the first year, so it’s important for everybody to go through some bad bits, in order to realise how good the good bits are.

“Getting to the Carling Cup final (in February) and then winning it gave the whole club a lift,” he said. “Getting past Stoke in the FA Cup quarter-final, too, gave everybody something to look forward to. This will give the place another lift. Everybody that works with the club and supports the club will all be enjoying it, because everybody is in this together.”

He added: “There are no scapegoats for anything that has gone wrong, there is only a vision of how we are going to go forward. To go forward and to be successful, sometimes you’ve got to get battered along the way.

“I think that this football club is a fantastic example to anybody else who wants to run a football club. When there is a bit of mud flying about, we close ranks and get behind each other. That’s the football club that I used to know, and its the football club I know now.

“We’ve got to be strong enough to stand up to (criticism) and we’ve got to be confident enough in our own beliefs. The supporters have got to be strong enough in their beliefs that what we’re doing is correct. If they do, we’ll be OK.”

Dalglish admitted he has not been surprised by the levels of criticism which greeted the Reds’ worst league run in 59 years, but says it is important to remember his side remain very much a work in progress.

“I’ve been there before, and I suppose I’ll be there again at some stage,” he said. “I’ve never said at any time that we were the finished article, and I still won’t say that now.

“But what I will say is that every bit of knowledge we’ve got, every effort, every commitment, will go towards improving the club.

“It’s not vindicated with one game. But when it’s a big game and a good result, they can really enjoy the moment and it gives them great belief in themselves and a great lift.

“And though it’s not been too good the past few weeks in the league, that’s two cup finals, one we’ve won and the other one we’re looking forward to. That gives everybody who supports Liverpool Football Club a lift.”

Speaking of support, Dalglish was wholesome in his praise for the 87,231 fans who packed into a sun-drenched Wembley, ensuring a unique Merseyside atmosphere.

“I think, once again, both sets of fans are an absolute credit to the city of Liverpool. The way they conducted themselves was as good as it was whenever I have been here. And I would be saying that whether we had won or lost.

“For me, it is a city that should be very proud of its football clubs.”

He added: “We’ve got a great deal of respect for David Moyes and Everton Football Club. We won’t gloat, but we’re very proud and pleased it’s us in the final. Now is the time to enjoy the moment, be respectful to Everton and then over the next two or three days get back to work and make sure we get ourselves fully focused for the league games and the Cup final.”